Device for placing and removing lamp bulbs



H. D. GRINNELL m 6 w w 4 m a 6 w j T 61\ 8 I & a 6 M 4 Y 8 III 6 9 I Q aw a e 8% M a May 13, 1930.

DEVICE FOR PLACING AND REMOVING LAMP BULBS H. D. GRINNELL A A A A W CM.v 1 M M Z w M 8 waw 4 w-m 0 DEVICE FOR PLACING ANDREMOVING LAMP BULBSMay 13, 1930.

Patented May 13, 1930 UNETE HAROLD D. GRINNELL, OF PITTSFIELD,MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIG-NOR TO THE G. G. A. MANUFACTURING COMIANY, OFPITTSFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS DEVICE FORPLACING AND REMOVING LAMP BULBS Application filed December 29, 1928.Serial No. 329,288.

This invention relates to improvements in apparatus for placing andremoving detachable objects in elevated positions, such, for example, asincandescent lamp bulbs, and

aims to provide novel and improved means for accomplishing thisoperation. As explained in my copending application Serial No. 261,236,device for placing and removing lamp bulbs, of which the present deviceis a modification, this invention is designed more particularly, but notexclusively, for application to lamps mounted in elevated positions andwhich, by reason of'the size and shape of reflectors associatedtherewith, or other peculiarities in surroundings, can be convenientlyremoved and replaced only by being gripped laterally, and not endwise asis the usual practice.

The invention will best be understood. from a description of a specificuseful embodiment thereof, illustrated in the accompanying drawings,wherein,

Fig. 1 is a front elevation, partly in section, showing the device inthe closed position and operatively applied to a lamp bulb;

Fig. 2, a similar view, showing the device in the open position;

Fig. 3, a side elevation on the vertical section line 33 of Fig. 1,looking in the direction of the arrow; and

Fig. 4, a sectional top view on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2, showing the beltguides and associated parts, the belt having been removed. a

In the present embodiment, a pair of clamping members in the form ofarms 10, 11, each arm comprising apair of plates arranged in parallelare provided at their upper extremities with recessed or concave jaws13, 14, adapted to grip a lamp bulb 15 or other object having a convexsurface, about its middle Suitable means are provided, hereinafterdescribed in detail, to rotate the lamp bulb in either direction whilethus engaged for mounting it in, or removing it from, its socket.

The clamping arms are each pivotally secured at their lower ends bysuitable means, such as the cross pins 16, to a reciprocative support orcarrier 17 mounted between the stationary frame plates 18 fixed to aswivel base member 19 carried on the upper extren1- ity of a portablerod 20 of indefinite length. Elevation of the clamping arm support orcarrier 17, which permits spreading the jaws 13, 14 to receive the lampbulb, is accomplished by the operator by exerting a downward pull upon abelt 21 removably secured at its opposite end to a cross pin 22constituting one of a pair of spacing members preferably employed tosecure in fixe d relation the lower ends of the opposing plates or sideportions of the carrier 17, the bight or intermediate portion of thebelt being looped around a roller 23 rotatively mounted on a cross pin24 secured between the frame plates 18. The lower or freeend of the belt21 is preferably provided with an extension portion, such as the pullcord 12, extending downward into position to be conveniently grasped bythe operator. Upward movement of the carrier 17 with the clamping arms10, 11, is yieldingly opposed by suitable means such as the coilcontraction spring 25 suspended within the frame or side plates 18 andremovably secured at opposite ends to the grooved pins 26, 27 which arein turn secured respectively between the upper ends of the carrierplates 17 and the lower ends of the frame plates 18, the pin 26, whichalso serves as a spacing member for the upper end of the carrier andconsequently movable therewith, is preferably formed with reduced endextension portions 28 (see Fig. 3) extending freely into thelongitudinal guide-slots 29 provided therefor in the frame plates 18.The remaining pin 27, being secured to the side plates of the frame, isstationary. The carrier 17 is also guided in its movements at its lowerend preferably by a pair of guide studs 30 providedv on the carrier, oneon each side thereof, and arranged to extend freely through longitudinalslots 31, similar to and in alignment with the slots 29, provided in theframe plates 18.

The spring 25 is under constant tension, exerting a downward pull on thecarrier, and serves to return the carrier to its lower limit of movementwhen no opposition is offered. This action of the spring and carriertends to draw the clamping arms 10, 11 into the closed position, causingthe aws to grip firmly the lamp bulb or other object interposed. Theclosing of the clamping arms during their downward movement is inducedby the cooperative action of the carrier and the inward pressure exertedon the arms by their engagement with spacing pins 32 carried on theframe at an intermediate point in its length and extending between theside plates 18, the outward curvature of the arms, shown in Figs. 1 and2, being designed to facilitate this closing movement.

hen the clamping mechanism as a w iole has been adjusted to the desiredangle with respect to the rod 20 through the medium of the base 19, theapplication of the clamping arms to an object, such as a lamp bulb, isaccomplished by first spreading; the arms through the medium of the pullcord 12 as above described. The jaws 13, 14, while in the open position,are then presented to the object laterall so as to grip it firmly aboutthe middle and in a plane transverse to its axis, the formation of thejaws bein designed to obviate contact with reflectors or other adjacentobjects or attachments. In this posi tion the bulb is disposed withinthe concavity formed on the opposing faces of the jaws, as seen in Fig.1, and seated at three points, namely the finger-like extremities of thejaws, which are inturned for the purpose, and the top of the frameplates 18, each of these supporting points being provided with a spoolroller designated as 33, 33, 34, freely mounted on pins 35, 36 carriedon the frame. The flanges of these rollers prevent endwise displacementof the engaged object while in motion and also serve to true up itsposition after insertion, thus reducing any wobbling tendencies of thebulb when its axis is not disposed at a right angle to the plane ofmovement of the aws.

To rotate the lamp bulb or other object when in the gripped position forthe purpose of screwing it into or unscrewing it from the lamp socket, Iprovide separate suitable means, such a circulatory belt 37,independently operated, composed preferably of woven fabric or otherflexible material, and positioned and adapted to frictionally on pagewith the surface of the bulb. This belt is carried on the rollers 33provided at the upper extremity of the clamping arms and extendsdownward on both sides of the device an indefinite leng th to pointswithin convenient reach of the operator. After ing over the rollers 33on both clamping arms, the bight of the belt is drawn clownwardsubstantially in parallel lines under separate rollers 38, 39 on eitherside carried by the clamping arms at the lower ends of the jaws andagain over the roller 34 which is provided at the top of the frame andserves as a supporting point for the bulb as best shown in Figs. 1 and2. In this manner the belt circulates around the inner faces of the jawsof the clamping arms and in position to frictionally engage the surfaceof the bulb, movement of the belt in one direction or the other beingadapted to rotate the bulb in the opposite direction while stillsupported by the jaws in the closed position. As shown, the rollers 38,39, at the lower ends of the jaws 13, 14 are so arranged with referenceto the upper pair of rollers 33 that when the belt drawn taut itcontacts with the lamp bulb at diametrically opposite points immediatelybelow the upper pair of rollers.

The outer or depending portions of the belt 37 are preferably securedagainst outward displacement at their ends and below the rollers 33 byengagement with the spreader pins 40 provided thereat and securing theopposite side plates in each of the jaws 13, 14, said pins beingarranged to direct the belt slightly inward in. movable engagement withthe respective rollers The ends of the belt are preferably given aquarter turn below the rollers 33 and held in parallel relation onopposite sides of the frame by suitable supporting journal members 41,which carry rollers 42, 43 arranged in pairs and permitting free passaare of the belt therebetween, said journal members being detachablyconnected to each other by an axle 44 which also forms a pivot for thebase member 19. This base member 19 is rotatably supported betweenparallel plates 45 fixed in upright position in the end of the rod 20and adapted to grip opposite faces of the base member by appropriateadjustable clamping means, such as the screw and thumb nut 46, hereinshown, and thereby to support the clamping mechanism at any desiredangle with respect to the rod 20. The journal members 41 are adapted toautomatically turn slightly on their common axis, assuming a positionofferinnleast resistance to the free passage of the belt and yielding toits pressure when the clamping mechanism is shifted to assume an angularposition on the rod.

One of the journal members 41 may also be made to serve as guide supportfor the pull cord 12, which is here shown extending downward in parallelrelation at this point to the belt 37, being passed between a separatepair of rollers 47 see Fig. 4) separated from the main or belt rollersby a spacing mem ber 48 and journaled on the axles thereof. The cord 12,where it joins the spreader belt 21 may be connected thereto by anysuitable means. such as the stirrup buckle 49.

It will be observed that the entire clamping mechanism may be turned andadjusted on the rod to assume any desired angle within an arc of atleast semi-circular dimensions found necessary for convenientapplication to the lamp bulb or other object.

The invention is not restricted to the precise form of embodiment hereinshown, and

is susceptible of any modifications in embodiment coming within thescope of the appended claims.

I claim 1. In a device of the class described, in combination, clampingmembers for gripping an object laterally and disposed in a planetransverse to the longitudinal axis of the object when applied thereto,means for spreading the clamping members, means for actuating theclamping members into the gripping position, and separate means forrotating the object when in the gripped position.

2. In a device of the class described, in combination, clamping membersfor gripping an object laterally and within the longitudinal limits ofthe object, said clamping members being applied thereto by movementtoward the object in a plane transverse to the axis of the object, meansfor securing the clamping members in the gripping position, means inaddition to said securing means and inclusive of parts thereof forreleasing the clamping members, and independent means for rotating theobject while in the gripped position.

3. In a device of the class described, in combination, clamping membersadapted to grip a lamp bulb laterally and disposed in a plane whollywithin the longitudinal limits of the bulb, clamping arm releasingmeans, means cooperating with and in addition to parts of said securingmeans for releasing the clamping members, and separate means forimparting to the lamp bulb a rotary movement in either of oppositedirections.

4. In a device of the class described, incombination, clamping arms forgripping a lamp bulb laterally and disposed for application thereto in aplane transverse to the axis of the lamp bulb, releasing means forpermitting the clamping arms to spread apart to receive the same, meanscooperating with and in addition to said releasing means for actuatingthe clamping arms into the closed position, and means, independent ofsaid releasing means and said securing means, for rotating the lamp bulbwh n in the gripped position.

5. In a device of the class described, in combination, a reciprocativecarrier, clamping arms pivoted at one of their ends to the carrier andhaving jaws at their opposite ends adapted to be swung toward and awayfrom each other for engaging and disengaging a lamp bulb, rigidly actingmeans for elevating the carrier to spread the jaws, spring means forreversing the movement of the carrier to close said jaws, and meansindependent of said elevating means for rotating the lamp bulb whenengaged by the jaws.

6. In a device of the class'described, in combination, a rod, clampingmechanism pivoted to the rod at one end and adapted to be swung at itsopposite end through an arc of at least 180, said clamping mechanismincluding clamping members for gripping a lamp bulb and adapted to bemoved toward and away from each other in a plane transverse to the planeof movement of said clamping mechanism, means for actuating the clampingmembers, and means independent of said actuating means, for rotating thelamp bulb upon its axis in either direction when in the grippedposition.

7. In a device of the class described, in combination, a rod, a supportpivoted to swing in either of opposite directions on the rod, clampingmechanism carried on said support, including upright frame memberssecured in parallel relation on the support, a reciprocative carriermounted on said frame members, clamping arms pivoted on the carrier andhaving free ends adapted to be moved toward and away from each other forgripping and releasing an object, roller members journaled on saidclamping arms and said frame members transverse to the plane of movementof said clamping arms for engaging said object, means for actuating saidcarrier and clamping arms, and means for rotatively actuating saidobject when in the gripped position.

8. In a device of the class described, in combination, clamping arms, areciprocative support or carrier for the clamping arms, said clampingarms being pivotally secured to said support or carrier and having jawsadapted to be swung toward and away from each other in a planetransverse to the longitudinal axis of a rotatable lamp bulb or otherobject for gripping and releasing the same laterally, means forelevatingsaid support or carrier to spread the clamping arms, and

means in addition to and in cooperation with said elevating means forreversing the movement of said support or carrier to close the clampingarms.

9. In a device of the class described, in combination, clamping members,a reciprocative support or carrier for the clamping arms, said clampingarms being pivoted at one of their ends to the carrier and movabletoward 7 and away from each other and having aws at HAROLD D. GRINNELL.

